Legal Partners

Legal Aid

Civil legal aid refers to the free legal services provided by thousands of attorneys who work through local legal aid offices to help millions of low-income people gain access to justice. Civil legal aid helps low-income people resolve urgent, non-criminal legal problems that make a difference in their everyday lives, such as protecting the elderly from unlawful evictions, making sure women and children are protected from violence in their homes, and helping veterans receive the financial benefits they have earned and need.  Civil legal aid programs are state-based or community-based organizations funded in a variety of ways. Some receive grants from the United States Congress each year through the Legal Services Corporation (LSC). The LSC is a private, nonprofit organization established by Congress to ensure equal access to justice under the law by providing legal assistance in civil (non-criminal) matters to low-income individuals.   Most federally funded civil legal aid programs also receive support from other sources, including individual donors, foundations, businesses, United Way contributions, state bar foundations and state and local governments.

Unfortunately, the total amount of legal aid available for civil cases is still grossly inadequate. According to LSC's widely released 2005 report "Documenting the Justice Gap in America: The Current Unmet Civil Legal Needs of Low-Income Americans", all legal aid offices nationwide, LSC-funded or not, are together able to meet only about 20 percent of the estimated legal needs of low-income people in the United States.

Pro Bono

The legal profession has a strong ethic that supports pro bono activity by lawyers.  The American Bar Association (ABA) ethical rules recommends that lawyers contribute at least fifty hours of pro bono service annually, and has a Standing Committee to support, facilitate and expand pro bono participation.  This guideline acknowledges the gap in access to legal assistance for poor people, and highlights the critical role that the private bar – from law firms to solo practitioners to corporate counsel – can play bridging the justice gap.

Law Schools

In 2008 there were 200 ABA-approved law schools across the United States.  As part of the law school training and curriculum, the majority of law schools run legal clinics where students represent real clients with the help of instructors and learn the nuts and bolts of legal practice.  Law school clinics help to meet a small portion of client and community legal needs, while also sparking passion and commitment for serving vulnerable populations that informs many practicing lawyers throughout their careers.